Category Archives: Macau

When G7 leaders meet in Hiroshima this week, they wont be alone: eight non-members including major developing economies have been invited in a bid to sway opinion on Russia and China.

Regional powerhouses India and Brazil will attend along with ASEAN host Indonesia, Pacific Island Forum chair the Cook Islands, African Union chair Comoros, Vietnam, South Korea and Australia.

They will take part in a dedicated outreach session as well as bilateral meetings intended to bring some reluctant leaders into the fold in opposition to Russias war in Ukraine and Beijings growing military assertiveness.

Its increasingly the case that the guest lists of these things are quite large, but not just anybody is invited, said Tristen Naylor, an assistant professor at the University of Cambridge and an expert on summits and diplomacy.

The G7 wants to be seen as a club dedicated to the protection of democracy and wants broader backing for its support of Ukraine and efforts to counter China, he told AFP.

India is a long-time military ally of Moscow and its ambivalent position on the war in Ukraine is out of step with most other leading democracies, Naylor said.

So this is very much a chance for the G7 to at least try to bring India on side, he said, warning it would be a difficult task.

While Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to address the summit remotely, a Russian delegation will be in Delhi this November for the G20 summit, and few expect Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make any sudden policy shifts.

Another principal aim of the summit will be to offer an alternative to Chinas huge infrastructure investments around the world, Naylor said.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was in Beijing last month, where his countrys top trading partner pledged to pursue high-quality development that would unlock opportunities for Brazil.

Lula, who took aim at the US dollar on the trip, is far from the only leader being courted by China, and G7 allies are keen to show they can offer an alternative.

This concept of pushing back on Chinese influence, sustaining the rules-based order in the Global South will be a big part of the summit, said Chris Johnstone, Japan chair at the Center of Strategic and International Studies.

Japan has already been doing legwork on that front, with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and foreign minister Yoshimasa Hayashi making a flurry of trips this year to countries in Africa, Southeast Asia, Latin America andPacific Island nations.

In Delhi in March, Kishida pledged public and private capital worth $75 billion towards infrastructure in the Asia-Pacific region by 2030.

He has also hammered home the message that Russias invasion of Ukraine is the chief cause of the soaring food and energy prices that have hit developing countries hardest.

But theres a movement to divide the world by giving the wrong impression that the G7s sanctions against Russia are to blame, Kishida told reporters in Mozambique.

Tokyo and Seoul are in the process of patching up long-frayed ties, and Kishida is expected to hold trilateral talks with his Korean and US counterparts on the sidelines of the summit.

Talks could also be held in Hiroshima between the Quad grouping of Japan, Australia, the United States and India.

But not all invitees are likely to be in such a conciliatory mood, according to Yuichi Hosoya, professor of international politics at Keio University.

It should not be taken for granted that they will offer broad and strong support on Ukraine and other G7 initiatives, he wrote in an article last month.

Japan should make efforts to understand precisely what each of the countries are looking for, recognise the diversity of the international community, and make specific contributions.

by Katie Forster

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'Pushing back': G7 seeks influence with expanded guestlist - Macau Business

Unease over the slow progress of US debt talks further dampened sentiment in equity markets on Wednesday, though Japanese stocks got a boost from forecast-beating economic growth data.

Regional traders were provided a tepid lead from Wall Street, where disappointing retail sales data and weak earnings from Home Depot indicated softening consumer demand.

But analysts said the readings were unlikely to give the Federal Reserve room to pause its interest rate hikes yet.

All eyes are on Washington, where lawmakers remain deadlocked in negotiations to lift the countrys borrowing limit to pay its debts and avert a market-rattling default.

US President Joe Biden met Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and other congressional leaders at the White House on Tuesday after saying staff-level talks had produced no shift.

McCarthy told reporters there was still a lot of work to do before the country runs out of cash, which the Treasury has warned will happen around June 1.

However, there was a sliver of light as he said he ultimately expected a deal.

America is the number one economy in the world. And when we get done with these negotiations, Americas economy is going to be stronger, McCarthy said.

And the White House said Biden was optimistic that there is a path to a responsible, bipartisan budget agreement if both sides negotiate in good faith.

In a bid to get an agreement over the line, the president who flies to Japan on Wednesday for a G7 summit scrapped subsequent stops in Papua New Guinea and Australia, instead planning to return to Washington on Sunday.

Still, investors remain nervous about the possibility of a default, which many economists warn would send shivers through the world economy.

Hong Kong, Shanghai, Sydney, Singapore, Mumbai and Bangkok fell on Wednesday, though Seoul, Taipei, Manila, Wellington and Jakarta edged up.

London and Paris dipped in the morning but Frankfurt rose.

The standoff has forced traders to keep one foot on the gas and one foot on the brake, causing markets to spin wheels this week, said SPI Asset Managements Stephen Innes.

Tokyo led gainers after figures showed Japans economy grew more than expected in January-March thanks to a surge in tourism after pandemic border restrictions were lifted.

The figures helped push the Nikkei 225 to a 20-month high and it has now piled on more than 15 percent since the turn of the year, while the Topix is at a three-decade high.

Analysts said the strong market performance has been helped by corporate reforms and the central banks ultra-loose monetary policies.

Comments from several Fed officials did little to provide any clarity on the US central banks plans for rates at next months policy meeting.

Richmond Fed president Thomas Barkin said he was open-minded but still looking for signs that more than a year of tightening was having the necessary effect on inflation, which remains well above the banks target.

I do want to learn more about whats happening with all these lagged effects, he told Bloomberg Television.

But I also want to reduce inflation. And if more increases are whats necessary to do that, Im comfortable doing that.

And Atlanta Fed chief Raphael Bostic warned Tuesday that we havent gotten to the hard part yet, adding officials would come under pressure if they were unable to keep the economy from tipping into recession while fighting inflation.

Key figures around 0810 GMT

Tokyo Nikkei 225: UP 0.8 percent at 30,093.59(close)

Hong Kong Hang Seng Index: DOWN 2.1 percent at 19,560.57 (close)

Shanghai Composite: DOWN 0.2 percent at 3,284.23 (close)

London FTSE 100: DOWN 0.2 percent at 7,733.52

Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0836 from $1.0865 on Tuesday

Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2427 from $1.2483

Dollar/yen: UP at 136.96 yen from 136.37 yen

Euro/pound: UP at 87.18 pence from 87.01 pence

West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 0.7 percent at $70.35 per barrel

Brent North Sea crude: DOWN 0.6 percent at $74.43 per barrel

New York Dow: DOWN 1.0 percent at 33,012.14 (close)

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Markets mixed as sluggish debt talks worry investors - Macau Business

SolarWinds Service Desk now includes an AI-powered virtual agent to help users troubleshoot issues so IT agents can focus on critical and complex tasks

SINGAPORE Media OutReach 18 May 2023 SolarWinds (NYSE:SWI), a leading provider of simple, powerful, and secure observability and IT management software, announces its adding transformative artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) capabilities to its IT service management (ITSM) solutions. The new AI features include a virtual agent to help users solve everyday IT problems and guided incident resolution to empower agents with the information they need to effectively resolve complex issues.

The new SolarWinds Service Desk additions are designed to reduce ticket volume by enabling users to remediate easier-to-solve issues so IT practitioners can focus on the complex issues requiring their expertise. The Service Desk AI virtual agent can answer user questions and support troubleshooting. By constantly learning based on interactions with users, the virtual agent adapts over time to provide the most helpful and relevant information and help solve issues based on each customers specific needs.

The cloud-native SolarWinds Service Desk solution is highly regarded in the industry for being easy to use and effective for users and agents while providing quick time to value. Automated ticket routing, AI-powered smart suggestions, and the new virtual agent within Service Desk all help ensure agents can efficiently deliver services across the organization. Customers can also enhance and personalize Service Desk through integrations with over 200 popular cloud applications.

Digital transformation, application modernization, and the move to the cloud have dramatically increased the complexity of digital services, said Cullen Childress, GVP of product management at SolarWinds. This means the number of potential problems impacting user experience has also increased substantially. Our ITSM solutions are a significant focus were investing in. This includes Service Desk, which enables teams to focus more on important business priorities rather than mundane, time-consuming tasks. By leveraging advanced AI and powerful automation, SolarWinds makes users more productive, supports agents more efficiently, and helps ensure companies are more successful.

SolarWinds solutions are rooted in the companys deep connection with tech professionals. The company engaged directly with customers through THWACK, its community of over 180,000 users, to develop and test the new AI capabilities and ensure they make it easier for IT pros to do their jobs. A recent survey of SolarWinds customers found the new Service Desk AI features enabled IT teams to reduce ticket resolution time by 24% and save an average of 23 hours per week. Surveyed Service Desk customers have also reported a reduction in downtime of 21% on average and a 24% average increase in progress toward achieving service-level agreements (SLAs).

Teams can customize SolarWinds Service Desk to provide an efficient and intelligent ticket management system and service request workflows for other business groups beyond the IT department. This enables human resources, legal, finance, sales, marketing, and other departments to become more responsive and enhance their service delivery capabilities. Managing employee requests through one system and automating workflows helps these departments deliver better and faster services to colleagues. Later this year, SolarWinds is planning to launch a new enterprise service management (ESM) solution designed to allow multiple departments within a single organization to have their own service portal, ticket management system, and service catalog within one platform to allow better cross-department workflows while ensuring data from different departments is appropriately segregated.

The new AI-powered ITSM upgrades are the latest significant solution enhancements from SolarWinds. SolarWinds released cloud-based and hybrid observability solutions and a new partner program in the past year. By investing in the AI-powered SolarWinds Platform, the company is blending observability and service management to consistently deliver simple and secure solutions for IT Ops, DevOps, SecOps, and CloudOps professionals.

Hashtag: #SWI #SWIproducts

https://www.linkedin.com/company/solarwinds/?cmp=https://www.facebook.com/SolarWinds/?cmp=

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

SolarWinds (NYSE:SWI) is a leading provider of simple, powerful, secure observability and IT management software built to enable customers to accelerate their digital transformation. Our solutions provide organizations worldwideregardless of type, size, or complexitywith a comprehensive and unified view of todays modern, distributed, and hybrid network environments. We continuously engage with IT service and operations professionals, DevOps and SecOps professionals, and database administrators (DBAs) to understand the challenges they face in maintaining high-performing and highly available hybrid IT infrastructures, applications, and environments. The insights we gain from them, in places like our THWACK community, allow us to address customers needs now and in the future. Our focus on the user and our commitment to excellence in end-to-end hybrid IT management have established SolarWinds as a worldwide leader in solutions for observability, IT service management, application performance, and database management. Learn more today at http://www.solarwinds.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements, which are subject to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding future features and functionality. These forward-looking statements are based on managements beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to management. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical facts and may be identified by terms such as aim, anticipate, believe, can, could, seek, should, feel, expect, will, would, plan, intend, estimate, continue, or similar expressions and the negatives of those terms. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, the risks and uncertainties described more fully in documents filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the risk factors discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2022 filed on February 22, 2023 and our Quarter Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2023 filed on May 4, 2023. All information provided in this release is as of the date hereof and SolarWinds undertakes no duty to update this information except as required by law.

The SolarWinds, SolarWinds & Design, Orion, and THWACK trademarks are the exclusive property of SolarWinds Worldwide, LLC or its affiliates, are registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and may be registered or pending registration in other countries. All other SolarWinds trademarks, service marks, and logos may be common law marks or are registered or pending registration. All other trademarks mentioned herein are used for identification purposes only and are trademarks of (and may be registered trademarks of) their respective companies.

2023 SolarWinds Worldwide, LLC. All rights reserved.

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SolarWinds Adds Transformative AI Features to IT Service ... - Macau Business

The Asian Football Confederation said on Wednesday that it was investigating acts of violence after two mass brawls and four red cards marred the mens final of the Southeast Asian Games.

Indonesia defeated Thailand 5-2 in extra time on Tuesday in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh in a match that saw clashes between players and coaches of both sides.

Thailand, who have since apologised and launched their own investigation, ended the bad-tempered final with eight players on the field.

One of those sent off was goalkeeper Soponwit Rakyart after he ran half the length of the pitch to deliver a diving punch to an Indonesian opponent.

The AFC is disappointed with the disorderly incidents at the SEA Games football final, a spokesperson for the governing body for football in Asia said.

The AFC underlines the importance of fair play, mutual respect and sportsmanship, and takes a zero tolerance approach towards all such acts of violence, which threaten the physical integrity of players and officials.

Mens football at the biennial SEA Games is played between under-23 sides.

The final had been billed as a chance for Indonesia to restore some pride to its football following a deadly stadium disaster and the loss of hosting the Under-20 World Cup.

But the game will be remembered for the scenes that began in the 97th minute when Thailand - who had been 2-0 down - scored to make it 2-2 and force extra time.

Thai officials celebrated their late leveller by running over to the Indonesia bench, prompting the first melee.

When Indonesia took the lead back early in extra time, their officials returned the favour, with even more incendiary results.

Sumardji, a member of the team staff who like many Indonesians goes by one name, told TVOne that their players returned the provocation and I chased them and shouted Dont!'

But suddenly I got hit here (his mouth) and I fell down.

Kicks were landed as well as punches. Both teams had a player sent off, and members of their coaching staff were also dismissed.

As the Thai teams discipline crumbled, another two of their players were sent off during extra time for second yellow cards.

The Thai football association said it would punish anyone found to have been in the wrong.

The FA of Thailand must apologise for the clash on the touchline, it said in a statement, adding it would set up a committee to investigate those involved as soon as possible and will take decisive measures.

The chairman of the Indonesian FA pointed the finger at Thailand.

Sometimes we got provoked and then we fell into it, Erick Thohir told Metro TV.

I warned earlier that this is a provocation, they wanted us to lose. We were beaten, trampled on and cheated.

The chaos and their role in it overshadowed the achievements of Indonesias young team, and what it means to football in the country.

In October, a stadium disaster killed more than 130 people in East Java. And in May FIFA relocated the Under-20 World Cup from Indonesia to Argentina because of opposition in the Muslim-majority nation to Israels participation.

President Joko Widodo said he was very happy that his country won gold.

This is something we had been waiting for 32 years, to be the champion in Southeast Asia, Widodo told reporters, according to a statement by the presidential palace.

by James LEGGE

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Asian football probes 'acts of violence' after red cards mar final - Macau Business

At a hillside temple, a monk in saffron robes blows a refrain on a conch and begins chanting prayers as thousands of origami cranes donated to Hiroshima burn.

For a decade, the Daisho-in Buddhist temple on Miyajima island, facing Hiroshima, has held ritual burnings of the millions of origami cranes sent to the city each year.

The ceremony is intended to honour the sentiments folded into each of the miniature paper birds.

And since 2015, the ash from the burned cranes has been used to glaze ceramic incense burners and candle holders, including one given to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky by Japans prime minister on a trip to Kyiv.

Cranes have arrived in Hiroshima for decades, inspired by Sadako Sasaki, who was just two when the United States dropped an atomic bomb on the city on August 6, 1945.

She developed leukaemia and in hospital began folding cranes in keeping with a tradition that holds folding 1,000 can make a wish come true.

She died aged 12, one of about 140,000 people killed by the bomb immediately or in the aftermath, and has become a powerful symbol of the bombs effects and a popular way to educate children about the attack.

For years, the cranes sent to Hiroshima were simply left at memorials, with municipal cleaners occasionally disposing of them.

It wasnt until 2012, as the city searched for a better way to handle the cranes, that Kinya Saito of the Nagomi Project, a peace group, proposed ritually burning them.

I thought about the idea of emotions being released with smoke and sent up to the victims of the atomic bomb, the Hiroshima native told AFP.

Yoyu Mimatsu, a monk at Daisho-in, has led the burning ceremony for the past decade.

After blowing the conch, he sits at a table in front of the fire pit and strikes a prayer bowl before beginning chants for the souls of bomb victims.

He also prays for the emotions and prayers of people from all over the world, the prayers for peace folded into each of the paper cranes, to reach the heavens, the 57-year-old told AFP.

While Daisho-in was willing to burn the cranes, they werent sure what to do with the leftover ash.

They found a solution in Taigendo, a pottery studio that for more than 100 years has produced ceramics using sacred sand from under a Miyajima shrine.

The third-generation potter running the studio Kosai Yamane was already using ash from an eternal flame burning on Miyajima to glaze his ceramics and was open to using the crane ash in a similar way.

It was an artistic project, but also deeply personal for Yamane, whose mother was 14 at the time of the bomb attack.

She had burn scars on her elbows, and as a child, I never saw her wear anything except long sleeves, Yamane told AFP.

She never talked about it. I felt she was trying everything to avoid being noticed, to avoid talking about it.

Yamane knew immediately the crane ash could not be used to glaze everyday items like cups or bowls.

I wanted to make something that would convey a message of peace from Hiroshima, he said.

He settled first on a delicate crane-shaped incense burner, and later began producing candle holders.

They have a dome-like top modelled on the shape of the Childrens Peace Memorial and are etched with cranes.

The candle sits under the dome on a plate glazed with the ash, the glaze helping reflect the light to produce a warm orange glow.

Yamane was shocked but delighted to learn Japanese Prime Minister Kishida had presented Zelensky with one on his March visit.

I felt that peoples message of peace was in the right place, the 60-year-old said.

This message gathers in Hiroshima, but it does not come only from Japan, it comes from all over the world, and is brought together when thecranesare burned.

Group of Seven leaders, including US President Joe Biden, are expected to visit peace sites in Hiroshima during this weeks summit, where Kishida will push for action on nuclear disarmament.

Hiroshima is now a synonym for peace, said Saito.

But it is also a place that directly illustrates how terrifying and horrifying nuclear weapons are.

I want the leaders to understand what happened, to listen to what people say.

by Sara HUSSEIN

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The second life of Hiroshima's origami cranes - Macau Business

Germanys second-biggest lender Commerzbank on Wednesday said net profit almost doubled in the first quarter, thanks to a tailwind from higher interest rates.

The group said it made a bottom-line profit of 580 million euros ($630 million), compared with 298 million euros over the same period a year earlier.

We had a very good start to 2023, CEO Manfred Knof said in a statement.

The interest rate development continues to give us a tailwind, and the fee business has delivered a good result, he said.

Like other lenders in Europe, Commerzbank has benefited from a higher interest rate environment as the European Central Bank has raised borrowing costs at an unprecedented rate in recent months to combat inflation.

Inflation in Germany, Europes biggest economy, eased to 7.2 percent in April after peaking at 8.8 percent last October.

Commerzbank said quarterly revenues fell slightly to just under 2.7 billion euros, from 2.8 billion euros a year earlier. The lender said the dip was partly due to charges set aside to cover legal costs at its Polish unit mBank.

Commerzbank embarked on a major turnaround in recent years, focussed on winning new customers, digitisation and reducing its workforce.

The bank has culled around 9,000 jobs since 2021, out of a planned 10,000.

The overhaul helped the group remain in the black for a second consecutive year in 2022, when it booked a net profit of 1.4 billion euros.

Commerzbank returned to the prestigious DAX index of Germanys 40 top listed companies in February.

Looking ahead, Commerzbank said itwas aiming for a full-year net profit well above that of 2022.

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Commerzbank profits soar on higher interest rates - Macau Business

The city has over 20% of cellphone users using 5G service, said Lau Wai Meng, director of Macao Post and Telecommunications Bureau (CTT).

Speaking on the sidelines the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day ceremony yesterday, Lau said she is satisfied with the progress because when compared with nearby localities, the growth of the user size has been rather fast. The official also said the fast-paced growth was probably due to the citys small size and population.

In addition, pursuant to the law, 5G license holders must build a network that covers 50% of Macaus area within the first year of operation. She said all operators had achieved the threshold and some had even surpassed it.

To date, CTT has issued two 5G licenses to CTM and China Telecom.

Yesterday morning, CTT held an event to celebrate World Telecommunication and Information Society Day. To highlight the theme of the day this year, CTT organized thematic lectures about The Driving Force of Urban Development: Innovation and Application of Information and Communication Technology, and invited academic experts, as well as representatives from the industry in Hong Kong and mainland China, to discuss and share experiences on the topic.

The ceremony aimed to highlight the necessity of accelerating sustainable development in the places where international assistance is needed the most, tapping the full potential of the least developed countries and helping them make progress on the road to prosperity.

Staff Reporter

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MACAU DAILY TIMES 20% of population using 5G - Macau Daily Times

What to do in Macau? No matter how long you would like to stay in Macau, here are top 8 things for you to do in Macau. As a former colony, Macau is a city with both western and Chinese elements. From Macau attractions you will learn more about Macau. You could go to those historical sites and ancient villages to find a old Macau. While wandering around Historical Center of Macau, one of UNESCO World Heritages, and strolling in the Taipa Village, you could explore an authentic Macau. Furthermore, you could taste special local foods at Rua do Cunha, experience the breath-taking Macau Tower adventure, watch hair-rising show of House of Dancing Water, learn about Chinese tea culture, sit and sip Portuguese Wines, and have a relax at Hac Sa Beach. Start your Macau tour from our guide of the top must-do in Macau!

Macau Tourist Map

Opening Hour: All day long, every day (Except some museums here)

Best Time to Experience: All year round

How Long to Spend: About 3-4 hours

Ticket Price: Free (Except some museums here)

Where & How to Go There: Old Town District, Macao Special Administrative Region (). It needs about 15 minutes (8 km) from Macau International Airport by car; Bus MT4 (Macau Airport Station to A-ma Temple Station) and Bus No.26 (Av. Son On Station) are available.

Historical Center of Macau is a collection of over twenty locations that witness the unique assimilation and co-existence of Chinese and Portuguese cultures inMacau, a formerPortuguese colony. In 2005 the Historic Centre of Macau was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, making it the 31st designated World Heritage site in China. It represents the architectural legacies of the city's cultural heritage.

You could travel from the A-ma Temple (Free, 7:00~18:00), dedicating to Matsu, the goddess of seafarers and fishermen. The name Macau is thought to be derived from the name of the temple. Then you can go to Macau Maritime Museum (Wednesday~Next Monday: 10:00~18:00, Sunday: $0.62, Other Days: $1.25) exhibiting the history of the maritime industry in Macau, China and Portugal. Then walk towards the north of A-ma Temple, you could see the Lilau Square where gathered traditional houses of Portuguese in Macau. Then you could walk to Mandarin's House, the residence of the late Qing theoretician and reformist Zheng Guanying. He completed his masterpiece of Shengshi Weiyan (Words of Warning in Times of Prosperity) in the house. Walking around the roads, you could see the Senado Square, the center of Macau. You should also have a look at the Ruins of St Paul' s Cathedral, which is one of the greatest monuments to Christianity in Asia. There are many other historical sites as Monte Forte (Fortaleza do Monte), St. Dominic's Church, etc.

(Note: The ticket price and opening hours are only for reference. For more detailed information, please feel free to contact our private consultant.)

2 Days Hong Kong & Macau Highlights Tour (by Ferry) 3 Days Hong Kong & Macau In-depth Cultural Tour

Opening Hour: All day long, every day

Best Time to Experience: All year round

How Long to Spend: About 1-2 hours

Ticket Price: Free

Where & How to Go There: Rua do Cunha, Taipa, Macao Special Administrative Region (). It needs about 10 minutes (3 km) from Macau International Airport by car; Bus AP1X/AP1/No. 36 (Macau Airport Station to Xin Hong Garden Station) are available.

Rua do Cunha is a narrow pedestrian street named afterthe Portuguese explorerTristo da Cunha. It is known for shops selling almond cakes, phoenix eggrolls, coconut flakes, cherikoff and peanut candy, which travellers buy as souvenirs, such as Choi Heong Yuen (Chinese: ) and Koi Kei (Chinese: ). It is also known for the various Portuguese restaurants, including Dumbo Portuguese Restaurant, A Petisqueira, etc. For first time visitors to Macau looking for somelocal street food, Rua do Cunha in Taipa Village is a great place to start. You could eat delicious local foods along this street with several friends to explore the food culture of Macau. Don' t forget to buy some souvenirs when you go back.

Opening Hour: September~Next June: 10 am~7:30 pm (Mon~Thurs); 10 am~9 pm (Fri~Sun)July~August: 10 am~10 pm

Best Time to Experience: All year round

How Long to Spend: About 1-2 hours

Ticket Price: 141-3839

Where & How to Go There: No. 1, D District, New Reclamation, Macao Special Administrative Region (d1). It needs about 15 minutes (8 km) from Macau International Airport by car; Bus No. 26 (Xin An Road Station to Macau Tower Station) is available.

Macau Tower, the landmark of Macau, is totally 330 meters high. There are also several adventures for you to experience. They are Bungy Jump, Sky Jump, Sky Walk and Tower Climb.

Be part of a Guinness World Record in the Sky of Macau! The Macau Tower Bungy Jump is 233m / 764ft high, making this jump a Guinness World Record for the Highest Commercial Bungy Jump in the world. In order to make this jump from the Macau Tower a reality, a specially designed bungy cord, guide cables, and recovery system are equipped.

For those of you who would like to jump from the Macau Tower and are looking for a less challenging way to do it than Bungy, try Sky Jump! Designed and invented in New Zealand, Skyjump is a controlled decent experience and you jump from the same platform as Bungy at 233m/764ft. Skyjump is different from Bungy jumping as you don' t free fall or rebound and you jump in a standing position and stay that way all the way to the ground.

Imagine you' re standing on top of a Tall Tower with 233 meters/764 feet high. Now take a stroll around the outer perimeter that encircles the tower. It is Sky Walk!

Tower Climb can guarantee the maximum height exposure and best 360 degree views.Come to stand at the very top of the iconic Macau Tower by climbing 100 meters up the mast' s vertical ladders.

(Note: The ticket price and opening hours are only for reference. For more detailed information, please feel free to contact our private consultant.)

Opening Hour: Thursday~Next Monday: 5:00 pm, 8:00 pm

Best Time to Experience: All year round

How Long to Spend: About 48 minutes

Ticket Price: 528-1322

Where & How to Go There: No. 1, D District, New Reclamation, Macao Special Administrative Region (d1). It needs about 5 minutes (2 km) from Macau International Airport by car; Bus MT4 (Macau Airport Station to Wynn Palace) and No. 26 (Macau Airport Station to City of Dreams Station) are available.

The House of Dancing Wateris a water-based stage production written and directed byFranco Dragone, the former director of Cirque du Soleil. The show, which was the second water show by Franco Dragone' s company, premiered in September 2010. Macau' s most expensively made show, is a breathtaking melange of stunts, acrobatics and theatre. The magic revolves around a cobalt pool the size of several Olympic-sized swimming pools. Over, around, into and under this pool a cast of 80, dressed in glorious costumes, perform hair-raising stunts.

During either an early evening or late evening show, you'll be entertained by an action-packed spectacle that thrills all ages with its daring acrobatics, high dives, motorcycle stunts, colorful water jets and multimedia theatrics. A love story unfolds after a fisherman is swept into a watery land of princesses, pirates and other colorful characters.

Most people who come to Macau just want to watch this splendid show. It is a must for you besides visiting Macau' s luxury casinos.

(Note: The ticket price and opening hours are only for reference. For more detailed information, please feel free to contact our private consultant.)

Opening Hour: 9:00 am~7:00 pm (Closed on Mondays)

Best Time to Experience: All year round

How Long to Spend: About 1 hour

Ticket Price: Free

Where & How to Go There: Lou Lim Ieoc Garden, Avenida do Conselheiro Ferreira de Almeida, Macao Special Administrative Region (). It needs about 20 minutes (10 km) from Macau International Airport by car; Bus No. 26 (Xin An Road Station to Liansheng Hospital Station) is available.

Macau Tea Culture House has a variety of long and short-term exhibitions to introduce the tea cultures of Macao, China and the West, and seeks to promote the study of tea cultures worldwide. During Saturday, Sunday and holidays, you could drink free tea here 3pm to 4pm. This museum introduces tea-drinking culture with exhibits of teapots and 'tea paintings'. The latter were produced by foreign and local painters (sometimes in a collaborative relationship) for sale to westerners in China' s trade ports.

The Macao Tea Culture House - an edifice featuring southern European elements and a Chinese tiled roof - complements the Portuguese-style buildings in the area magnificently as well as the surrounding Suzhou-inspired landscape of Lou Lim Ieoc Garden. The garden holds party in every Mid-Autumn Festival (15 th, Aug of lunar calender in China).

Opening Hour: All day long, every day

Best Time to Experience: All year round

How Long to Spend: About 1-2 hours

Ticket Price: Free

Where & How to Go There: Taipa, Macao Special Administrative Region (). It needs about 10 minutes (3 km) from Macau International Airport by car; Bus AP1X/AP1/No. 36 (Macau Airport Station to Xin Hong Garden Station) are available.

As a Portuguese colony for more than 400 years, Macau has developed a unique culture that blends European and Chinese values, cuisine and architecture. Nowhere is this unique fusion more obvious than Taipa Village, a cultural district on the island ofTaipa, which in spite of rampant development by casino resorts on the next-door Cotai Strip, has managed to cling onto its pastel-coloured houses, quiet backstreets and traditional restaurants. So if you're looking for a slice of oldMacau, dont miss Taipa Village. Here you can go to Taipa Village Art Space. This narrow, two-storey gallery anchors the arty side of Taipa Village. The space showcases the work of a range of artists (both local and from further afield) and hosts a number of hands-on workshops and classes. You could also taste Portuguese foods in Antnio or eat some special local foods at Rua do Cunha. In addition, Avenida da Praia, Pak Tai Temple, Quarter Square and so on are waiting for you to explore.

Opening Hour:Friday~Sunday: 3 pm till midnightWednesday~Thursday: 3 pm~10 pm

Price: A glass of wine from 43

Where & How to Go There: 31A Rua de So Paulo, Macao Special Administrative Region (31A). It needs about 20 minutes (10 km) from Macau International Airport by car; Bus MT4 (Macau Airport Station to Rua Das Lorchas Station) is available.

If you' re a wine enthusiast and live in Macau or happen to be passing through Macau, then Macau Soul will be a good choice for you. The wine lounge managed by an old British couple, David and Jack, is down the hill from the ruins of St. Paul' s Church. Opened in 2008, the couple' s intimate retirement project has become a favorite refuge for locals and an alternative destination for tourists looking to escape the casino frenzy in the gambling capital of Asia. Once entering the bar, you will see framed paintings, photos, and Asian ceramics. Sit and sip, you will find a totally different world. You will listen to an eclectic selection of music, sometimes live, from swing to jazz, while sipping one of the more than 400 Portuguese labels, including fine balanced reds from the Alentejo region. In addition to wines, MacauSoul also offers a number of house-made snacks including David' s sourdough bread and Jacky' s Madeira trifle. The couple has travelled many places in the world, and you will fascinated by their knowledge while chatting with them. Remember that you could only use cash in this lounge.

Opening Hour: All day long, every day

Best Time to Experience: All year round

How Long to Spend: About 1-2 hours

Ticket Price: Free

Where & How to Go There: Hac Sa Beach, Coloane, Macau, Macao Special Administrative Region (). It needs about 10 minutes (3 km) from Macau International Airport by car; Bus AP1X/AP1/No. 36 (Macau Airport Station to Xin Hong Station) are available.

Venture to Coloane Island to discover Macau beyond its casinos, a place where you can enjoy lush greenery, beaches, hiking trails, seaside restaurants and unique East-meets-West heritage. For a taste of Macau' s true character and soul, look no further than Coloane. Here you will find the biggest beach of Macau - Hac Sac Beach. The name "Hac Sa", is a translation from Cantonese, literally means the famousblack sand. However, to prevent the beach from disappearing due toerosion, Macau government has refilled the beach with yellow sand artificially. The dark colour comes from the minerals in the water which is lighter than other volcanic beaches like those inHawaii.The water is quite clean and suitable for swimming. Popular with locals and tourists, it does get busy over the weekends, but there is plenty of space and activities for everyone to enjoy such as jet-ski and sail boat hire, plus other water activities.You could stroll along the beach or buy local foods and barbecue from the many stalls along the beach. In the old and historical village Coloane and this beach, you will get temporary peace. After lunch, take a nice walk on the beach or, even better, go by the white houses hidden on the right side of the stretch of sand. A trail called Long Chao Kok is easy to spot and leads into a couple of houses close to Cheoc Van beach. Passing the prehistoric stones on your left, you will discover a peaceful pagoda named "" above the sea where you can rest and meditate. If you are lucky, you might even see pink dolphins!

For most regular travelers to Macau, they spend 1-2 days to enjoy the best highlights of the culture, history, food and development of this city, including Ruins of St Pauls Cathedral, A-ma Temple, Senado Square, Rua do Cunha, Macau Tower, Casinos, etc. You could come to there to experience the top things to do we recommended above. Besides, for many visitors, they also combine a trip to Macau together with Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Jiangmen, Foshan and else to explore more attractions of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area of China.

>>2 Days Hong Kong & Macau Highlights Tour

Also, you can easily travel from Macau to any other hot travel destinations in China by flight or train, such as Beijing, Xian, Shanghai, Guilin, Lhasa, etc. China Discovery has designed many classic China tour packages including Macau. You can also customize one according to your own interests.>>Contact Us Now

Traveling with China Discovery, we can help you arrange everything in Macau according to your likes and budget very well. We have private transfer service for you which can save your time spent on many transfers. Meanwhile, our professional travel guide will explain every attraction for you wonderfully. During your trip, all you need to care about is just scenery you plan to visit. Our professional local guide and driver will escort you from your hotel, train station, airport to all attractions with comfortable private car with speed and convenience and let you catch the highlights of every site and this city, so you can get really relaxed on the way and focus on what you are interested. Please contact us directly to tell your needs if you are interested!

Start planning your tailor-made holiday to China by contacting one of our specialists. Once inquired, youll get a response within 0.5~23.5 hours.

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8 Best Things to Do in Macau - China Discovery

Hop on a ferry or bus to Macau where palatial hotel resorts, exuberant casinos, local delicacies and exhilarating shows await!

Whether youre visiting Macau for the first time or have been waiting three years to revisit our neighbouring SAR, were glad to bring your our updated guide to where to eat and stay in Macau. From newly opened resorts, local delicacies, historical sites and exciting attractions, here are all the best things to see and do while youre there.

Macau (or Macao)is a no-brainer pick when it comes to a short and easy getaway. Its similar to Hong Kong in the sense that it is also a Special Administrative Region, meaning it has its own currency, administration and legal system to the rest of China. Like Hong Kong, Cantonese is widely spoken there and Hong Kong Dollars is also widely used and accepted, which approximately converts 1:1 Macanese Pataca (MOP).

Editors Note: Stay tuned for more updated Macau content from us as we reacquaint ourselves with the region.

Jump To:Getting To MacauWhere To StayWhat To EatWhat To Do

Read More:City Breaks In Asia 5 Direct Flight Destinations From Hong Kong

Getting to Macau has never been easier. Not only can we go by ferry, but since the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge opened back in 2018, we can also go by bus, which operates 24/7.

Most people know about the ferry from Hong Kong Macau Ferry Terminal in Sheung Wan, but you can also get the ferry from the Kowloon China Ferry Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui and Hong Kong International Airports SkyPier. There are two ferry operators to choose from:

If you get seasick easily, a good alternative is to travel to Macau via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB). Those choosing to stay on land can either take public transport to the Hong Kong Port (more details here), then catch a shuttle bus to Macau Port. From there you can take public transport to your final destination. Alternatively, you can take a cross-boundary coach or hire a cross-boundary car (see the list of cross-boundary hire car operators here)to take you directly from Hong Kong to Macau.

There are also a number of bus services that can get you straight to your hotel in Macau:

Sassy Tip:Those driving in a private car to the Hong Kong Port can book a parking spot hereand enjoy 30-minute complimentary parking within any 3-hour period.

Read More:5 Direct Flight Destinations From Hong Kong You Might Not Have Thought Of

Macau is made up of one peninsula and two islands, however, the area between the two islands, Taipa and Coloane, created an additional area known as Cotai. As such, when we speak of Macau, we refer tofour main districts, namely Macau Peninsula, Taipa, Cotai and Coloane. Most attractions, sites and casinos are located in the first three districts. Coloane, however, offers a more cultural experience of Macau. Colonial buildings running along the sides of the cobblestone streets of this coastal village give visitors a glimpse of the citys Portuguese past.

Read More:The Best Hotel Staycations In Hong Kong

Be prepared to be transported to the City of Love. From the Eiffel Tower to the iconic windmill in Montmartre, The Parisian is an impressive replica of the French capital. This five-star hotel oozes opulence and has everything you need under its roof, from casinos (naturally) to shops, restaurants and even a water park for the little ones.

The Parisian Macao, Estrada do Istmo, Lote 3, Cotai, Macau, +853 2882 8833, http://www.parisianmacao.com

Hotel Pousada de Coloane is a quaint boutique hotel that offers an experience that couldnt be further away from the extravagant hotels along the Cotai Strip. Hotel Pousada is a former manor house from the 1930s. Located on the beachfront in the southern bay of Macau, this is a lovely hideaway for an idyllic stay with a touch of history.

Hotel Pousada de Coloane, Cheoc-Van Beach Coloane Island, Macau, +853 2888 2143, http://www.hotelpcoloane.com.mo

The Londoner Macao encompasses two new all-suite hotels The Londoner Hotel and Londoner Court alongside Sheraton Grand Macao, St. Regis Macao and Conrad Macao. With a grandiose faade, complete with a life-sized Big Ben, a red double-decker bus (flown in from the UK!) andphone booths for picture taking, its worth passing by in the least for the Gram.

Sassy Tip: Be sure to catch the light and sound spectacular, where the buildings outer faade comes to life with dazzlinglighting effects choreographed to classic British-themed musical scores, running hourly from 7:30pm to 11:30pm.

The Londoner Macao, Estrada do Istmo. s/n, Cotai, Macau, +853 2882 2878, http://www.londonermacao.com

As the regions very first integrated resort, modelled after its sister casino resort in Las Vegas, The Venetian hardly needs an introduction. Its best known for impeccably replicating a number of Venetian landmarks, including an impressive network of canals and gondolas that run through the building.

The Venetian Macao, Estrada da Baa de N. Senhora da Esperana, s/n, Taipa, Macau, +853 2882 8877, http://www.venetianmacao.com

Dont be fooled by the rapid emergence of new cafs, Macau has a long-standing coffee culture, taking roots from its colonial era. Sei Kee Caf and Cafe Namping are some nostalgic options. For more hip and up-and-coming spots, check out Chaa, Chillout Macau and Brew Lab.

Sei Kee Caf, 1 Largo dos Bombeiros Voluntrios, Macau, +853 6569 1214

Cafe Namping, 85A, 85 Rua de Cinco de Outubro, Macau, +853 2892 2267

Chaa, R/C A, Mei Lei Court, 84 Rua das Estalagens, Macau, http://www.instagram.com/chaa.macau

Chillout Macau, 2 Patio do Mainato, Macau, http://www.instagram.com/Chillout.macau

Brew Lab, 106 Rua do Matapau, Macau, http://www.instagram.com/brew_lab_macau

From Portuguese egg tarts to beef offal, Rua do Cunha has it all. Be mentally prepared for a dense crowd, but dont let this put you off as the queues tend to move quickly since there are often several vendors selling these local delicacies. Our advice is to not jump into the first queue you see. Do a quick scope of the area you might be surprised by what youll find further down the street. Also, remember that you didnt come all the way to shop at boutiques you can find in Hong Kong. Pastelaria Fong Kei is a local favourite. This century-old pastry shop can only be found in Cotai so make sure to get there early before some of their best sellers get sold out for the day.

Rua do Cunha, Taipa, Macau

Read More:Sassys Guide to Taipa Village, Macau

This family-run noodle shop has an unsuspecting storefront yet, for 50+ years, Cheong Kei has been serving arguably the best fine noodles in town. You have to try its signature dish: noodles with dried shrimp roe. All dry noodles come with a bowl of soup, which is cooked with dried prawns and plaices for over eight hours. The best thing about this is that you can ask for refills free of charge.

Cheong Kei (), 68 Rua da Felicidade, +853 2857 4310

If you cant make it to Paris, why not try La Chine, an award-winning Cantonese restaurant tucked inside the Eiffel Tower at The Parisian? Located on the sixth floor, La Chine offers a sophisticated location for a romantic lunch and dinner, as well as a panoramic view of the surroundings. The menu, curated by Executive Chef Ben Lui, is a fusion between fine French and Chinese cuisines.

La Chine, 6/F, Eiffel Tower, The Parisian Macao, Estrada do Istmo, Lote 3, Cotai, Macau+853 8111 9210, http://www.parisianmacao.com

For an evening option that provides a coastal contrast to the glamour of modern Cotai, head over to Fernandos,an authentic Portuguese restaurant located at the southern tip of Hc Sa beach in Coloane. This charming eatery serves a variety of seafood and other Portuguese staples with a plentiful wine range to pair. Accompanying the dishes is aconvivial, rustic atmosphere, ideal for a stroll along the sand before or after your meal.

Sassy Tip: If you dont manage to make a reservation in advance, we recommend arriving early and putting your name down on the waiting list before popping yourself down in their courtyard for a drink or two whilst you wait for your table.

Fernandos Restaurant, 9 Estrada de Hc S. Coloane, Macau, +853 2888 2264

Located within Sheraton Grand Macao,The Conservatory combines three dining experiences under one roof namelyThree Bottles, Chaan, and The Sweet Shop, offering an array of British-inspired and authentic Cantonese fare. Out by the restaurants main entrance, youll find an old-school sweet shop with shelves lined with lolly-filled jars and a vintage cart servingunique and seasonal flavours ofhomemade ice-creams perfect for a sugary pitstop betweenexploring.

The Conservatory, 1/F, Sheraton Grand Macao, The Londoner Macao, Estrada do Istmo. s/n, Macau, +853 8113 1200, http://www.theconservatorymacao.com

During the day, The St. Regis Bar plays host to a classy afternoon tea, featuring three tiers of sweet and savoury pastries and cakes, finger sandwiches and divine hand-crafted scones. In the evening, the bar dims and is buzzing with live jazz music and the jovial clinks of cocktail glasses. The Macau-inspired mural behind the bar makes for the perfect backdrop for your obligatory cheersing boomerang.

The St. Regis Bar, 2/F, The St. Regis Macao, The Londoner Macao, Estrada do Istmo, s/n, Cotai, Macau, +853 8113 1300, http://www.thestregisbarmacao.com

Despite being known as the Las Vegas of Asia, there is so much more to Macau than just casinos. Having been a Portuguese colony for almost 600 years up until 1999, Macaus identity is deeply rooted in its Cantonese culture but also heavily influenced by Western Europe. This is particularly evident in the colonial buildingsscattered around Macau and the fact that Portuguese is a co-official language there.

If this is your first time visiting Macau, a good place to start would be Senado Square, a popular shopping and dining area that is also part of the UNESCO Historic Centre of Macau World Heritage Site. On the way to the Ruins of St. Pauls, youll walk past St. Dominics Church, where royal weddings took place back in the day. Once you reach the ruins, make sure to go up those stairs to see a display of how the church used to look, and admire the view from a higher vantage point before you make your way back down.

Dont get sucked into the souvenir shops just yet. Make a right turn at the bottom of the hill and pass by Travessa da Paixo for a romantic pitstop. With colourful houses lining both sides of the street, this is a popular photo spot. You might also want to check out Calada do Amparo (), a colourful alleyway just off Rue de So Paulo. This creative walkway will lead you down to Rua dos Ervanrios, a street offering a glimpse of old Macau with a growing number of hipster coffee shops.

Macau is the perfect place for adrenaline junkies. From zip lines to bungee jumping, theres something for everyone. If you prefer quieter activities, make your way to The Venetian, where the popular Japanese immersive art space teamLab SuperNature resides or enjoy the spectacle of The House of Dancing Water, an impressive production with an international reputation.

ZipCity, R89 and R100, Retro Zone, Lisboeta Macau, Rua da Patinagem, Macau, +853 2888 6785, http://www.zipcity.com/home

Skypark Macau by AJ Hackett, Level T2, Adventure Zone Macau Tower, Macau, +853 8988 8656, http://www.skyparkglobal.com

teamLab SuperNature, Cotai Expo, Hall F, The Venetian Macao, Macau, +853 2882 8818, sandsresortsmacao.com

The House of Dancing Water, Grand Hyatt Macau at City of Dreams, Estrada do Istmo, Cotai, Macau, +853 8868 1788, http://www.thehouseofdancingwater.com

Main image courtesy of Yuyeung Lau viaUnsplash, image 1 courtesy of CHUNYIP WONGvia Getty, image 2, 5, 7, 8 courtesy of Chantelle Pang, image 3, 4, 6 courtesy of Sassy Media Group.

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Sassy's Quick Guide To Macau

Macau overtakes London as the worlds new five-star hotel capital  Style

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Macau overtakes London as the worlds new five-star hotel capital - Style